Lessons in Theosophy





Lesson 3, Reincarnation and Karma



      Imagine, if you will, the religious scene in New York City in 1875. Reincarnation and karma were unheard of, religions like Buddhism and Hinduism were virtually unknown, and “New Age” bookstores had yet to appear. Into the middle of all this, Madame Blavatsky brought her new and revolutionary ideas. Two of the most important ideas she taught were karma and reincarnation.

      Today, karma and reincarnation are familiar words to most Americans. Not so in 1875. Theosophy takes credit for popularizing the ideas of karma and reincarnation in the western world.


-- Reincarnation --


      The concept of reincarnation is simple: We die, yet our “soul” (or something by another name) returns to be born into another physical body, to live another life.

      Many people have a problem with reincarnation, saying it is too fantastic, too “far-out,” or downright unbelievable. Theosophy counters that arguement, saying that not believing in reincarnation does not make sense. Arguments both for and against, are in a number of Theosophical books listed below.


-- Not Coming Back As Animals --


      Theosophy teaches that humans do not reincarnate as animals. A. P Sinnett wrote,
      “The real Eastern doctrine of Reincarnation, as understood by the cultivated students of esoteric wisdom, is not, to begin with, the doctrine of metempsychosis or the return of a consciousness once established on the human level of evolution, into animal forms.” (Francesca Arundale, The Idea of Re-birth, page xv)
      Reincarnation, according to Theosophy, is seen as a journey along a path of ever-increasing spiritual growth. Both humans and animals are seen as travelers on this path, making slow but sure progress. Humans are seen as more spiritually-advanced than animals, and the return of a human as an animal would be seen as regression, not progress, along this path.
      “I should always say that the human ego cannot reincarnate as an animal, cannot become an animal.” (Charles Leadbeater, The Inner Life, page 223 online or hardcopy)
      The key concept is what is called the “ego.” When an animal becomes a human (in a process called Individualization) an ego is created. It is this “Reincarnating Ego” which reincarnates. For a human to be re-born as an animal would mean the human would lose its Reincarnating Ego, which Theosophy teaches does not happen. (The concept of the ego will be fully covered in Lesson 11.


-- Unexplained Abilities --


      The topic of child-prodigies and child-geniuses is a fascinating one. We have all seen very young children who are masters at playing the piano, working math problems, understanding difficult concepts, etc. This phenomena cannot be rationally explained, yet cannot be denied. Reincarnation gives a simple explanation to something that is otherwise impossible to explain.


-- Unexplained Affinities and Interests --


      Some of us are drawn inexplicably to a particular place, a foreign language we have never studied, or a particular time in history. Sometimes this interest can be explained as just something sparked by watching a movie, or reading a book. However, sometimes these interests and affinities can be uncanny. Some people are drawn to a place or era with such force that there can be only one explanation — that they have been there before, via reincarnation, and the old memories have surfaced enough to bring a feeling of recognition.


-- Unexplained Memories --


      This is an example of reincarnation explaining what nothing else can. Some people remember past incarnations. There are many cases on record. (For some people the memories are vague, while for others, the memories are quite clear.) The Reincarnation Forum (not a Theosophical web site, but a good source for reincarnation information and discussions) specializes in recording children’s memories of previous lives.


-- “Soul-Mates” --


      Soul-mates are people, or groups of people that we reincarnate together with, life after life. Sometimes we make a new acquaintance, and, after just a short time, we feel as if we have known them before. Many times we end up marrying these people.

      To believers of reincarnation, we have known them before. These quick-start friendships are merely friendships that are continued from a past life, and interrupted by intervening deaths. It has been said that the most important people in our lives (good and bad) are people that we know from previous lives. These are the important soul-mates in our lives. Take a look at a series of charts of the story of four people who continually reincarnate together.       It is important to point out how roles change from life to life — A couple may be father-daughter in one life, husband-wife in another, and mother-son in yet another. And, even the sexes of the two people differ from life to life, with either person being male or female depending on the situation of that particular incarnation.


-- Evolution --


      Theosophy teaches that we evolve as we move from life to life, becoming more mature and spiritual. As we look about, we can see more advanced and less advanced people in our lives. The theory of reincarnation supports this idea, suggesting that our purpose is to live many lives, and become more mature and spiritual as a result. This topic will be covered in lesson 9.


-- Reincarnation: Finishing Unfinished Yearnings From This Life --


      When we die, we leave certain things unfinished. Reincarnation gives us the chance to go back and finish them.
“Pause for a moment to [consider] the cycle of a human being.... A person passes from this world before fulfilling his true goal, leaving behind hosts of unfulfilled longings and yearnings. These act as potent factors in drawing the person back to the scene of the former achievements, in order that he may work out what he longed to do. It may be thought that these yearnings are blotted out, or obliterated, during the interval of death and that therefore they would fade out from the Earth's atmosphere, but such is not the case. For the record that was made at the moment that the thought or act was initiated is an indelible one, being. impressed upon the imperishable substance-principle pervading the universe — both during Manvantara (period of activity) as well as Pralaya (period of dissolution). This imperishable substance-principle is known as Akasa. For even during the periods of Rest, Motion still ‘pulsates and thrills through every slumbering atom’ as a Commentary on the Book of Dzyan explains it.” (Geoffry Barborka, The Divine Plan, p. 30)
Reincarnation removes the unfairness of a life cut short or a life left with unresolved issues. Any philosophy that speaks of fairness must include the idea of reincarnation.


-- Reincarnation and Brotherhood --


      Brotherhood is one of the key concepts in Theosophy, and is the first Object of the Theosophical Society. Racial hatred does not make sense for many reasons, but reincarnation gives us one more reason to reject racial hatred and embrace brotherhood: What of the person who hates a group of people, then is later born as a member of that very group? It is said that belief in reincarnation will remove racial hatred, and show that each one of us is more connected to all humanity than first thought.

      See also the Reincarnation Chart.

For further reading on reincarnation:


~~~


-- Karma --


      Karma is the idea that a record of our deeds (good and bad) stays with us. Good deeds will mean better opportunites for us in the future. Conversely, we will need to make amends for the bad things we do. Specifically, a good deed or a bad deed may mean good or bad things happening to us in a future life.

      When a person believes in reincarnation, karma is the next logical step. As we travel through birth after birth, there needs to be some way of tracking our progress, and any "adjustments" that need to be made. Karma is how this tracking is done.

      As Saint Paul said, whatever we sow, we will inevitably reap. This is the law of karma, by which we weave our own destiny through the ages. It is the great hope for humanity, for it gives us the opportunity to create our future by what we do in the present. Karma (especially the removing of bad karma) is said to be the thing that brings us into harmony with the universe.
“... every action inevitably gives rise to its complementary reaction. This is not an arbitrary bit of morality imposed at the whim of an irate Father-God, but is an essential law of the cosmos maintaining the harmony of being. The poise of the whole may never be disturbed by the eccentric movement of one of the parts without compensating forces flowing in to correct the balance. When we give ourselves to mere pleasure seeking and we try to avoid the compensating effects, the unbalance we thus set up within ourselves dims the windows through which the light of Conscience — knowledge of the pattern of the divine harmony — shines in upon the soul....” (Man, the Measure of All Things, by Prem & Ashish page 338)

      “The ... fundamental law of Rhythm ... manifests in the manner of cyclic pulsations in alternating periods of manifestation and dissolution. Thus every period of activity (Manvantara or Manifestation) requires a rhythmic sequence in an opposite direction, namely a period of rest (Pralaya or dissolution). Therefore we may deduce that Harmony or Rhythm is a fundamental part of the Divine Plan. Since this is so, then if this harmony should be disturbed, whether by outside forces or internal energies, there must of necessity be an inherent urge tending to restore the disturbed harmony. The Ancient Wisdon postulates that this urge is a manifestaition of a law as fundamental and eternal as that of Motion itself, operating constantly towards restoring harmony whenever it is disrupted, so as to maintain balance. This primal law may be called the Law of Adjustment, although it has been familiarized under a Sanskrit name which is fairly well know in the west — the Law of Karma.” (Geoffry Barborka, The Divine Plan, p. 29)

For further reading on karma:


-- The Reincarnation Online Forum --


      Many people refuse to consider the idea of reincarnation, yet some people are starting to take a look at the idea. The debate rages on. Feel free to take a look at the online Reincarnation Forum (not a Theosophical web page), where all aspects of the topic are discussed:
The Reincarnation Forum
http://www.childpastlives.org/vBulletin


Next: Lesson 4, Do Theosophists believe in God?



   

 
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